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Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

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Kayak, Canoe, SUP, Snorkel, Dive & Sail

Kayak, Canoe, & Paddleboard

Kayaking the serene waters of the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary located at Duck Park is a great way to melt away stress.

Our Sanctuary of the Great Lakes is 66% water, making the Alpena area a prime destination for water trail enthusiasts! Quiet rivers and lakes provide a serene setting for an afternoon of gliding on the water, wildlife watching, or daydreaming. Kayak, canoe or standup paddleboard a variety of settings across the region including our 500 acre Wildlife Sanctuary and the Thunder Bay River. Paddle over some of the shallow water shipwrecks in the area with this handy guide: Shallow Shipwreck Paddle Guide.

Snorkeling Tours

You don’t need to be a scuba diver to see some of Lake Huron’s famous shipwrecks up close. All equipment needed is available from local vendors (see listings below) for rental including masks, fins and wet suits. A wet suit rental makes a chilly lake comfortable, allows you to float without effort, and avoids sunburn. Novices welcome!

Explore Shipwrecks

Alpena is home to the nation’s only freshwater marine sanctuary. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary protects about 200 historically significant shipwrecks that lay at rest on the bottom of Lake Huron. View the collection of shipwrecks in what is known as Shipwreck Ally via kayak, or aboard Alpena’s glass-bottom boat, Lady Michigan. Visitors are also welcome to snorkel and dive the wrecks to get up close and personal with remnants of our nation’s past.

You can also explore the history and archaeology of these wrecks at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, the Marine Sanctuary’s 20,000 square foot river-front dry-land headquarters. Exhibits on Great Lakes maritime history and shipwrecks include the new “Exploring the Shipwreck Century” exhibit, (a 9,000 square ft. permanent exhibit where visitors can experience elements of a traditional maritime museum, combined with a hands-on discovery center featuring life-sized recreations of a historic Great Lakes schooner and shipwreck sites), artifact displays, and interactive learning stations on technology and diving. Open year-round; Free admission.